Liquid additive dispensing system for a household appliance

ABSTRACT

A dispensing system for a household appliance includes a reservoir for receiving a substantially liquid additive. A connecting hose is provided for connecting the dispensing system to the household appliance. A base is provided for receiving at least a first portion of the reservoir, the base providing a connection for passage of the additive between the reservoir and the connecting hose. An antislip device is provided at a lower end of the base for hindering lateral shifting of the base when the base is placed on a surface.

Priority is claimed to German patent application DE 10 2005 050 083.8, filed Oct. 18, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

The present invention relates to a dispensing system for a household appliance, such as a washing machine, a washer-dryer machine, or a dishwasher, including a reservoir for receiving a substantially liquid additive, such as detergent or washing or rinse additives, and a connecting hose allowing connection of the dispensing system to the household appliance, the dispensing system further including a base into which the reservoir can be inserted, at least partially, and which provides the connection for the passage of the additive between the reservoir and the connecting hose.

BACKGROUND

A dispensing system for liquid additives is known from DE 32 04 521 A1. There, a reservoir for liquid detergents and a metering pump are disposed inside the washing machine. The metering pump delivers the liquid detergent through a hose line to the upper region of the suds container, or alternatively into a compartment of the detergent flush-in drawer.

The dispensing systems of the type mentioned above have the disadvantage that the reservoir volume is limited by the space available inside the household appliance. In the case of household appliances having little space available inside, only very small reservoirs can be mounted. Another disadvantage is that the reservoir is difficult to access for filling or cleaning.

In DE 33 02 893 C2, a dispensing system for a washing machine is described which is disposed separately from the washing machine. The dispensing system includes a separate housing which accommodates the reservoirs for the additives, a control device, and the metering pump. Water from the suds container is conveyed through hose connections to the dispensing system, where the additive is added to this water. The water/additive mixture is pumped into the washing machine through a second conduit in the region of the flush-in channel for fresh water supply. The dispensing system described therein is designed as a separate add-on unit, for which an additional, predetermined fixed place must be provided laterally adjacent to the washing machine. Also required is a complex connection of the dispensing system to the washing machine via two hoses or pipes and a cable for power supply to the pump and for signal and/or data transmission. Space constraints make it difficult to access the reservoirs for filling or cleaning.

Document EP 0 268 451 A2 describes a dispensing system which has a receiving container for receiving another container or canister containing liquid detergent. The receiving container also provides the connection for the passage of the additive between the reservoir and further connecting lines to the washing machine. The canister has an outlet neck onto which can be screwed a closing cap and into which a valve mechanism is inserted in place of the closing cap. In the operational condition, the canister is inserted into the receiving container with the outlet neck pointing downward, the valve mechanism cooperating with a short tubular member located on the bottom side, whereby a leak-free fluid connection is established during the insertion operation. The interior of the receiving container is sized to match the dimensions of the canister to be received.

In document DE 198 08 608 A1, there is described a liquid additive dispensing system which includes a reservoir and a base. The base has attached thereto a pipeline which ends above the pulled-out detergent flush-in drawer. The dispensing system must be fixedly disposed in the region above the detergent drawer. Moreover, the reservoir can only be filled in this position because it does not have any closing means at the outlet port.

Document DE 690 19 666 T2, which is a translation of European Patent EP 0 423 044 B1, describes a liquid additive dispensing system which is disposed in the region of the detergent flush-in drawer inside a washing machine. A valve and delivery system is fixedly disposed in the washing machine, the reservoir being removable and the shape thereof being precisely adapted to the receiving space inside the washing machine.

In document DE 29 20 492 A1, a dispensing system for a washing machine is described which includes separate reservoirs for different detergents and/or additives for washing and/or rinsing. The reservoirs are connectable to the washing machine via conduits, a fixed location being provided for the reservoirs. For filling purposes, the additive must be filled into the stationary reservoir. Cleaning of the reservoir requires quite some effort in terms of handling, because in order to remove the container, at least the connecting hose must be removed.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a dispensing system for substantially liquid additives which is suitable for a household appliance and which is simple in design, easy to use, and requires a small amount of space.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a dispensing system for a household appliance. The dispensing system includes a reservoir configured to receive a substantially liquid additive; a connecting hose configured to connect the dispensing system to the household appliance; a base configured to receive at least a first portion of the reservoir, the base providing a connection for passage of the additive between the reservoir and the connecting hose; and an antislip device disposed at a lower end of the base and configured to hinder lateral shifting of the base when the base is disposed on a surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in the drawings and will be described in more detail below. In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the dispensing system connected to a washing machine;

FIGS. 2, 3 are cross-sectional views showing the base and the lower portion of the reservoir; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the base for the reservoir.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In addition to the small space requirements and the optimal adaptability to the installation conditions of the washing machine, an advantage that can be achieved with the present invention is that the reservoir is located separately outside the machine housing, so that it is, at all times, readily visible and easily accessible. To improve handling during filling or cleaning, the dispensing system further includes a base into which the reservoir can be inserted, at least partially, and from which it can be removed. The base establishes the connection for the passage of the additive between the reservoir and the connecting hose. Thus, the reservoir can be extracted from the base for cleaning or filling purposes, and the intended action can be performed at a different location.

In an embodiment, the reservoir is substantially cylindrical in shape, the portion that is insertable into the base having a reduced diameter as compared to the diameter of the exposed portion. This provides a good fit of the reservoir within the base. In this connection, it is advantageous that the base has a cylindrical shape, the outer shell having substantially the same diameter as the exposed portion of the reservoir. Apart from a nearly smooth transition, the bearing surface area of the base is not increased with respect to the cross-sectional area of the reservoir. A possible installation location would be the housing cover of the household appliance, a nearby shelf or side table.

In an embodiment, the reservoir has a bottom provided with an outlet neck which is directed downward or toward the bottom outer side and has an outlet opening. This outlet neck is located at the deepest point of the reservoir and provides efficient channeling of the additive. It is also expedient to provide outwardly directed ribs on the bottom of the reservoir, said ribs being equal or greater in length than the outlet neck. The ribs enable the reservoir to stand securely when it is removed from the base and placed in upright position at a different location. Thus, filling operations performed at a distance from the base are made easier.

In an embodiment, the outlet neck is designed as a valve having a downwardly directed outlet opening. In the closed condition, a piston movably located in the interior of the outlet neck is pressed against the outlet opening by a spring. This allows the reservoir to be removed from the base without leakage, even if there is some residual additive.

It is also expedient that the base has a bottom provided with a receiving opening for the outlet neck of the reservoir. The receiving opening takes the form of a sleeve into which extends the outlet neck of the inserted reservoir. A seal located between the outlet neck and the inner wall of the sleeve prevents unwanted leakage of the additive.

In another embodiment, the bottom of the base is spaced apart from the lower end of the base, the sleeve being entirely located in the remaining space between the bottom and the lower end of the base. Thus, the outwardly exposed shell surface can be made very smooth, which facilitates the cleaning of the base on the outside.

In an embodiment, the bottom has a raised portion in the region of the receiving opening above the sleeve. The raised portion serves to adapt the receiving region to the shape of the bottom of the reservoir. The outlet neck extends into the receiving opening located on the raised portion. The ribs on the bottom of the reservoir rest on the lower portion external to the raised portion, thereby providing a good fit of the reservoir within the base.

In an embodiment, the sleeve has disposed therein a plunger which is directed toward the outlet opening and is substantially in alignment with the piston of the valve in the reservoir. When the reservoir is inserted, the plunger presses against the piston of the valve, thereby moving the piston away from the outlet opening against the spring force of the spring. This means that the valve is operated automatically by insertion of the reservoir into the base, thus enabling the passage of the additives from the reservoir to the base, i.e., to the sleeve. A nipple for attachment of the connecting hose is formed on the side of the sleeve. For hose routing purposes, the base is provided with a hole in the shell region below the bottom. The hole is substantially in alignment with the nipple and has a slightly larger diameter than the connecting hose. The connecting hose is routed through the hole and slipped onto the nipple, the cross-sectional area of the connecting hose filling the hole nearly completely, or completely, while avoiding gaps.

In order to improve the function and reliability of the valve, it is expedient for the piston to have a guide bore into which projects a guide pin attached to the bottom of the reservoir.

In an embodiment, an antislip device is disposed at the lower end of the base to provide secure standing. The antislip device used is a resilient rubber ring which projects at least partially from the lower end of the base and increases the frictional resistance between the base and the surface on which it is placed.

In yet another embodiment, further holes are provided in the bottom of the base, said holes allowing for screw-mounting of the base. The base may be screwed to a plate, for example, to a housing cover, thereby further improving the support of the base or the combination with the reservoir.

Referring to FIG. 1, the illustrated washing machine 1 includes a suds container 31 having a drum 32 rotatably mounted therein. Dispensing system 2 is completely incorporated within washing machine 1, except for reservoir 3 for liquid or substantially liquid (viscous) additives 6, and connecting hose 4. The additives 6 used may be liquid detergents, washing additives or rinse additives, such as softeners. Reservoir 3, which is separate from the washing machine, may be placed and/or attached at different locations, as desired. Depending on the installation conditions for washing machine 1, reservoir 3 may be placed or attached on top of the housing, at the side of it, or behind it. Inside the housing of washing machine 1 is disposed pump 30, which delivers additive 6 through another hose line 33 to the lower region of suds container 31, and passes it into the suds container via a lip valve 34 or a nozzle. The nature and arrangement of hose line 33 are so flexible that the hose line is able to accommodate the movements of suds container 31.

FIG. 2 shows the lower portion of reservoir 3, which is inserted into a base 5. Reservoir 3 is designed such that it can be removed without tools from base 5, for example for filling or cleaning purposes. The diameter of cylindrical reservoir 3 is smaller in lower portion 7 than in exposed region 8. The portion having the smaller diameter forms the insertion portion 7 which is inserted into base 5. The base is also cylindrical in shape, shell 17 having substantially the same diameter as exposed portion 8 of the reservoir 3. In the center of bottom 9 of reservoir 3, there is located an outlet neck 10 which is directed downward and has a valve 14 and an outlet opening 11. Outlet neck 10 extends through receiving opening 19 (FIG. 3) into the interior of sleeve 20. Formed on the side of sleeve 20 is a nipple 26 onto which a connecting hose 4 (FIG. 1) can be slipped. Nipple 26 connects into the interior of sleeve 20, thereby providing the fluid connection for additive 6 (FIG. 1) from reservoir 3 to connecting hose 4 (FIG. 1). Outlet neck 10 contains a valve 13 which is open when reservoir 3 is inserted in base 5. The valve function is substantially provided by a piston 16 disposed in the interior 15 of outlet neck 10. Piston 16 is guided by a guide pin 16 b projecting into a guide bore 16 a of piston 16. A spring 14 presses the piston toward the outlet opening 11. In sleeve 20, an upwardly directed plunger is disposed at lower end 23. If, as is shown in FIG. 2, reservoir 3 is inserted in base 5, the plunger presses against piston 16, whereby the piston is removed or lifted from outlet opening 11, thus enabling the passage of additive 6 from reservoir 3 to connecting hose 4. A seal 21 between inner wall 22 (FIG. 3) of sleeve 20 and the outer surface of outlet neck 10 prevents leakage and provides the necessary tightness between reservoir 3 and base 5. Seal 21 is inserted in a groove in inner wall 22.

Lower end 23 of base 5 has attached thereto a resilient antislip device 28, which takes the form of a circumferential rubber ring in this embodiment. When placing base 5 on a plate, such as the housing cover of a household appliance 1, lateral shifting is prevented by the increased frictional resistance.

FIG. 3 is a view of the lower portion of reservoir 3, showing reservoir 3 removed from base 5. Valve 13 is closed, piston 16 being pressed against outlet opening 11 by spring 14. A guide pin 16 b is attached to bottom 9 of reservoir 3 in the region of the valve, said guide pin projecting into guide bore 16 a of piston 16. This prevents the possibility of piston 16 jamming in interior 15 of outlet neck 10. Ribs 12 are formed on the outer surface of bottom 9 of reservoir 3, said ribs being directed downward. The length of ribs 12 is greater than or equal to that of outlet neck 10. The ribs are arranged concentrically with respect to outlet neck 10 and provide a wide seating area for reservoir 3. Receiving opening 19 in base bottom 18 is located on a raised portion 24. Raised portion 24 is designed such that the outlet neck can be completely inserted into receiving opening 19, i.e., into sleeve 20, whereupon ribs 12 rest on the remaining portion of bottom 18, which is not part of the raised portion 24.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing base 5 with the reservoir removed. Raised portion 24 can be seen in the center of bottom 18. Receiving opening 19 is positioned in the region of raised portion 24. Plunger 25 is visible within the receiving opening, said plunger ending below the plane of receiving opening 19 on raised portion 24. Bottom 18 has holes 29 provided therein which serve for the mounting of base 5 by means of screws. The holes are closed by resilient plugs 29 a to prevent accumulations of dirt. Shell 17 provides a smooth outer surface and covers all internal components of base 5. 

1. A dispensing system for a household appliance, comprising: a reservoir configured to receive a substantially liquid additive; a connecting hose configured to connect the dispensing system to the household appliance; a base configured to receive at least a first portion of the reservoir, the base providing a connection for passage of the additive between the reservoir and the connecting hose; and an antislip device disposed at a lower end of the base and configured to hinder lateral shifting of the base when the base is disposed on a surface.
 2. The dispensing system as recited in claim 1 wherein the household appliance includes at least one of a washing machine, a washer-dryer machine, and a dishwasher.
 3. The dispensing system as recited in claim 1 wherein additive includes at least one of a detergent, a washing additive, and a rinse additive.
 4. The dispensing system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first portion of the reservoir includes a substantially cylindrical shape having a reduced diameter relative to a diameter of an exposed portion of the reservoir.
 5. The dispensing system as recited in claim 4 wherein the base includes a cylindrical shape with an outer shell having a substantially same diameter as a diameter of the exposed portion of the reservoir.
 6. The dispensing system as recited in claim 1 wherein the reservoir includes a bottom having a downwardly directed outlet neck, the outlet neck having an outlet opening.
 7. The dispensing system as recited in claim 6 wherein the bottom of the reservoir includes an outwardly directed rib having a length equal or greater to a length of the outlet neck.
 8. The dispensing system as recited in claim 6 wherein the outlet neck includes a valve having the outlet opening, the valve including a piston movably disposed in an interior of the outlet neck and configured to be pressed against the outlet opening by a spring.
 9. The dispensing system as recited in claim 8 wherein the base includes a bottom having a receiving opening for the outlet neck, the receiving opening merging into a sleeve including a sealing device configured to provide a seal between the outlet neck and an inner wall of the sleeve.
 10. The dispensing system as recited in claim 9 wherein the bottom of the base is spaced apart from the lower end of the base, the sleeve being disposed between the bottom and the lower end of the base.
 11. The dispensing system as recited in claim 9 wherein the bottom of the base includes a raised portion in a region of the receiving opening above the sleeve.
 12. The dispensing system as recited in claim 9 further comprising a plunger disposed in the sleeve, the plunger projecting toward the outlet opening in substantial alignment with the piston of the valve.
 13. The dispensing system as recited in claim 8 wherein the plunger is configured to, when the reservoir is inserted in the base, press against the piston of the valve so as to move the piston away from the outlet opening against the spring force of the spring.
 14. The dispensing system as recited in claim 8 wherein the piston includes a guide bore, and wherein the reservoir includes a guide pin attached to the bottom thereof and projecting into the guide bore.
 15. The dispensing system as recited in claim 9 wherein the sleeve includes a nipple formed on a side thereof and configured for attachment of the connecting hose.
 16. The dispensing system as recited in claim 10 wherein the sleeve includes a nipple formed on a side thereof and configured for attachment of the connecting hose, and wherein the base includes a shell region having a hole disposed below the bottom of the base, the hole being in alignment with the nipple and having a diameter larger than a diameter of the connecting hose.
 17. The dispensing system as recited in claim 15 wherein the base includes a shell region having a hole disposed below the bottom of the base, the hole being in alignment with the nipple and having a diameter larger than a diameter of the connecting hose.
 18. The dispensing system as recited in claim 10 wherein the bottom of the base includes a hole configured to enable screw-mounting of the base. 